News

September is National Hunger Action Month and Jewish Family Service of Greater New Haven, Inc. is participating by collecting non-perishable food to help stock its pantry shelves. Hunger Action Month is your opportunity to be a part of this national movement by donating non-perishable items to help feed the many local families in need of food assistance.

On Friday, September 14th (National Hunger Action Day) the JFS Food Pantry & Nutritional Health Center will be open from 8-12 accepting donations. In addition, non-perishable food donations can be dropped off at the JFS Food Pantry (1440 Whalley Avenue) on Wednesdays or Thursdays between 8:30 – 11:45 a.m. or the JFS main office during non-pantry hours (please be aware that the Jewish High Holidays are in September so the offices will be closed on several days).

In addition, synagogues conducting food drives during the High Holidays are asked to please sort and remove any expired food before delivering. To arrange a drop off day and time, contact Mara Ginsberg at mginsberg@jfsnh.org. For additional information please contact Sandy Hagan at (203) 389-5599, ext. 121 or shagan@jfsnh.org.

The High Holidays begin on the first day of the Jewish calendar and include two of the most important Jewish holidays, Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement).

Prior to the start of the High Holidays, the JFSGNH office will be closed on Labor Day, Monday, September 3rd. Then in observance of the High Holidays, the JFS office will be closed on the following dates:

Jewish Family Service of Greater New Haven is collecting school supplies for service recipients. Currently there are 100+ children between the ages of 4-18 in need of supplies for the upcoming school year. Items we are seeking include: New backpacks, two pocket folders; crayons (thick and thin); markers (thick and thin); pre-sharpened pencils; ink pens (blue or black only); One-subject notebooks (wide or college ruled); two+ subject notebooks (wide or college ruled); three ring binders; child safe pencil sharpeners; child safe scissors; glue sticks; erasers; construction paper; and highlighters.

Items can be dropped off at the JFS Food Pantry on Wednesdays and Thursdays between 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. or the JFS main office, 1440 Whalley Avenue, New Haven during operating hours (Monday – Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. or Friday 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.). If you have questions, please contact Sandy Hagan.

Jewish Family Service of Greater New Haven Achieves National Accreditation

Jewish Family Service of Greater New Haven, Inc. has achieved national accreditation through the New York-based Council on Accreditation (COA). Organizations pursue accreditation to demonstrate the implementation of best practice standards in the field of human services. COA evaluated all aspects of JFSGNH’s programs, services, and administration.

COA accreditation is an objective, independent, and reliable validation of an agency’s performance. The COA accreditation process involves a detailed review and analysis of an organization’s administration, management, and service delivery functions against international standards of best practice. The standards driving accreditation ensure that services are well-coordinated, culturally competent, evidence-based, outcomes-oriented, and provided by a skilled and supported workforce. COA accreditation demonstrates accountability in the management of resources, sets standardized best practice thresholds for service and administration, and increases organizational capacity and accountability by creating a framework for ongoing quality improvement.

Jewish Family Service of Greater New Haven has provided important and vital services to the community since 1941 and continues to respond to the community as new services are needed. From mental health and counseling for children, adults and families; Adoption services; Foster Parent Training and Support; Case Management, Food Assistance, Energy Assistance; Holocaust Survivor’s Assistance; Volunteer Opportunities, to Services for Adults with Developmental Disabilities, JFS is proud of its staff and board for their dedication and the quality services they provide to our community and beyond.

Pictured is Acting Executive Director, Amy G. Rashba and just a few of the JFS staff members who were involved in the COA Re-accreditation.

Congratulations to JFS staff member Rachel Scolnic Dobin, LMSW, and board member, Linda Randell, on receiving the Connecticut Council of Family Service Agencies (CCFSA) Family Champions award on Tuesday evening, June 5, 2018 at the New Haven Lawn Club. Each year the CCFSA recognizes a staff member and a board member from each of their participating family service agencies. Both Rachel and Linda are well-deserving of this honor and below are the reasons they received this award.

Rachel Scolnic Dobin, LMSW, Community Outreach Coordinator, is a pivotal member of the Jewish Family Service of Greater New Haven, joining the agency in August 2010. She consistently steps up to help in any and all ways to further JFS’ mission of helping make a difference in our client’s lives. She passionately cares about her clients and is an excellent advocate for them. Rachel’s work touches so many of JFS’s Programs and Services, however in particular the SOS Program and the Shalom Group. Through SOS, Rachel helps people who are experiencing tough times get back on their feet through employment and career resources, case management or community resources. In addition, she provides a friendly, educational and social environment for Jewish adults with developmental disabilities to find a community to connect with their heritage and each other through our Shalom Group.

Linda Randell began her journey with JFS in 2007 when she joined the JFS Board of Directors. Over the past 11 years, she has served on various committees, and as Vice President from 2011-2013 followed by President of the Board from 2013-2014.

Ms. Randell stands out for her unfailing willingness to go the extra mile for JFS whether it’s serving as a Board member, her kindness and generosity to both staff and board, or her keen sense in interpreting policies, procedures and issues with governance. She is currently is Chair of the JFS Governance Committee and Co-Chair of the Personnel Committee.

Ms. Randell also currently serves on the Board of Governors of the American Bar Association, where she chairs the governance committee, and on the Boards of the Towers and the Gateway Community College Foundation. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan, with honors and high distinction, and received her J.D. from the Yale Law School. Ms. Randell was the first woman partner at Wiggin and Dana, where she headed the regulated industries practice group, and was senior vice president and general counsel of a New York Stock Exchange-listed public utility holding company. Ms. Randell currently speaks on governance, culture and ethics.

JFS would like to thank all of the generous sponsors, supporters and attendees for helping make our 2018 Spring Celebration honoring Joe Adler a success! The Spring Celebration, which took place on Sunday, May 6, 2018 at the JCC in Woodbridge, was attended by over 250 people.

Rachel Scolnic Dobin, Director of the JFS Social Work Outreach Services Program (SOS), discussed Joe Adler’s vision and the founding of the original program nearly 8 years ago. The night included live music provided by Tim Moran Woodwinds, testimonials from beneficiaries of the SOS Program and a history of the extensive contributions made by Joe Adler to the Jewish community, Greater New Haven community and Israel.

Proceeds from the JFS Spring Celebration will benefit the SOS Program – which offers assistance with vocational and employment services, case management, financial and food assistance.

Many thanks to our corporate sponsor Morgan Stanley and to all our generous contributors and attendees. For a list of major contributors, click here. To view the photo album from the evening, click here.

Please donate at any point between 8 a.m. today, Tuesday, May 1st and 8 p.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, May 2nd. In addition to funds raised, there are bonus funds available to JFS. If we are the organization with the most gifts from unique donors between noon and 1 p.m. today, we will receive an additional $1,000.

The Great Give 2018 is almost here! This 36-hour event takes place on May 1-2, 2018, but donors can give now during the Advance Giving period. Visit https://www.thegreatgive.org/organizations and search for Jewish Family Service of Greater New Haven. Your donation will help us to continue to provide valuable services to those in our community.

JFS is proud to congratulate Mental Health Clinician Gayle Daskal, LMSW, and Board President Linda Caplan on receiving the Connecticut Council of Family Service Agencies (CCFSA) Family Champions Award on Wednesday, May 22nd at the New Haven Lawn Club. Each year, the CCFSA recognizes a staff member and a board member from each of their participating family service agencies. Both Gayle and Linda are well-deserving of this honor, and below you can find a little bit about them, as well as the reasons they received this award.

When it comes to the definition of “Can Do,” Gayle Daskal’s name is embedded in the definition. Gayle joined the JFSGNH staff three years ago as a per Diem clinician for the Permanency Placement Services Program. It was here that Gayle found herself performing therapeutic supervised visits with parents and children, providing clinical recommendations to DCF and the courts, and helping to stabilize pre-adoptive placements for children in the foster care system. She also showed her creative side while making Life Books for children within the DCF system of care and working with pre-adoptive families. During the past three years, Gayle has shown that she is a hard-worker, is very reliable, and especially sensitive to client’s needs. She became a full time staff member one year ago. As with any state funded program, contracts and programs themselves change and Gayle rolled with the changes and stepped up to create a new visitation program for families. She has also taken on many new responsibilities including working with Holocaust Survivors in the Greater New Haven Area and meeting with clients for individual therapy sessions in the JFS Mental Health Clinic, including the child-parent psychotherapy. Through the changes, Gayle has never lost her smile and cheerful disposition. She is an inspiration to clients and JFS staff alike.

Gayle graduated with a Bachelors in arts from the University of Connecticut in 2012. She earned her Master’s in Social Work, with a concentration in Clinical Social Work, Child Welfare, and Jewish Communal Service from Yeshiva University’s Wurzweiler School of Social Work in 2015. She graduated as a member of the Phil Alpha Honor Society for Social Work: Tau Epsilon Chapter, and was awarded the Student Government Peer Mentor Award upon graduating as well as the United States Department of Health and Human Services – Yeshiva HRSA Grant Trainee for clinical practice with high risk adolescents. She is trained in Child-Parent Psychotherapy, and the Circle of Security-Parenting Program.

Linda Caplan – Board President

President Linda Caplan with her husband Mark, and CEO Amy Rashba

Linda Caplan is an extraordinary and dedicated leader of the JFS Board. She has worked tirelessly to help guide JFS in a very strong and positive direction.

She has unlimited passion, humor, and integrity and has a strategic vision that will greatly benefit JFS in the future. Linda is an inspiration to our entire board and staff.

Linda became involved with JFS in 2013 as a volunteer in the JFS Food Pantry. She joined the JFS Board of Directors in 2015. Linda was named President of the Board in 2017.

Linda received her BS in Economics from SCSU and MBA from UNH. She launched her first career working in procurement for large industrial companies. She left the business world to raise her three children. As Matt, Hanna and Leah went through the K’Tanim program at Temple Beth Sholom, Linda started her second career as a pre-school teacher. Linda eventually retired from teaching and was able to more fully focus on volunteer roles with various organizations, including Hamden Hall and the Jewish High School of Connecticut.

Linda began her affiliation with JFS as a volunteer in the food pantry. She later became a founding volunteer in the Food4Kids program, which provides nutritious weekend food for more than 350 New Haven children at risk of going hungry. Linda lives in Wallingford with her husband, Mark, and a very pampered poodle, Martini.